Message in a Minute

Click the image above to hear from Pastor Ellen and to learn about the three Key Announcements for this week!

Spiritual Reflection

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

Mother Teresa

Fresh Expressions Workshop

Spiritual Care & Ministry for Persons Living with Dementia

Wednesday, October 16 from 10 AM – 12 PM in Classroom 6/7

New Covenant United Methodist Church is looking forward to hosting a workshop for family members, caregivers, and volunteers who live with and/or work with individuals with dementia. This workshop will provide practical tips for creating effective and helpful ways to offer spiritual care and support in a variety of settings. Fresh Expressions volunteers, Stephen Ministers, and Congregational Care Ministers may be particularly interested in this event.

The content of the workshop will be based on a book titled, "Spiritual Care for People Living with Dementia Using Multisensory Interventions" by author Richard Behers, a board-certified chaplain by the Association of Professional Chaplains and a Clinical Fellow in Hospice and Palliative Care by the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy.

The cost of the workshop will be $20. Registration is required. To register, please use the button below.

Our Next Health Speaker — Dr. Benjamin Lowry

Wednesday, October 16 at 1 PM in the Chapel

Do you find yourself forgetting names, misplacing your glasses, or repeating stories more often than you used to?

When ‘senior moments’ start increasing in frequency or other symptoms arise, then it’s time to get help. Join Dr. Benjamin Lowry, Aviv Clinics’ neuropsychologist, to learn how you can counteract these cognitive challenges. No registration required.

Student Ministry Fall Fundraisers

We want our students to be able to experience the whole weekend of worship music at Rock the Universe, a Christian atmosphere at Universal Studios. Net proceeds from the Student Ministry Fall Fundraisers will support the New Covenant Student Ministry.

Greenery Fundraiser – Items will be delivered and distributed from the New Covenant campus. The greenery is live; you will need to pick up your order. Prices vary. This year we are taking credit, cash, and checks. Our youth will be in the Narthex Sunday mornings from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM to take your order and collect your payment. If you order online, you can drop off your cash or check after worship services or to the Administration Office on weekdays during church business hours.

Car Wash – Our car wash fundraiser on the church campus will be held Saturday, November 16 from 9 AM – 12 PM. The suggested donation is $5 per golf cart or $10 per car. We are continuing our express lane for golf carts this year. Please let your friends and neighbors know about this event as well.

Alzheimer’s Ministry

We are seeking volunteers who might be interested in serving with the New Covenant Alzheimer’s Ministry.

Each Thursday from 10 AM to 11:30 AM, we have support groups that allow the caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s to share their experiences, exchange helpful information, and join in fellowship together.

While the primary caregiver is in the support group, the caregiver’s loved one can be safe and secure in our Respite Program, where loved ones can play games, sing songs, and enjoy other fun activities.

For more information about volunteering with this ministry, please contact Jackie Damron.

Do Life Big!

“I wanna love, serve, and give every chance I get, I wanna do life big” are lyrics from Jamie Grace’s song Do Life Big. 

It comes from John 10:10(b) in which Christ says, “…I came that they may have life abundantly.”

Here at New Covenant, we have so very many opportunities to Do Life Big. We have been given the chance to “love, serve and give” abundantly.  Don’t miss out. Volunteer your Time, Talents, and Treasures to this church. It’s your church.

Legacy Giving

Giving through your will or trust allows you to keep your assets while you need them.

New Member Class — Date Change

Due to the church closure for the storm, we have moved the New Member Class to Thursday, October 17 at 1 PM in the Chapel. If you have already registered, there is no need to re-register.

Blessing of the Animals — Date Change

Sunday, October 20, from 4-6 PM in the Parking Lot

Due to the uncertainty of the weather, we are rescheduling this event. There is still time to register your beloved pet. Whether your pet is large or small, furry or feathered, bring them along to receive a blessing and join us for a morning of community and celebration.

Please ensure that all animals are leashed and under control at all times. We kindly ask that you register for the event to help us prepare plenty of goodie bags for your pets.

Christmas Wish Tree

New Covenant's Christmas Wish Trees allow us to share and give love to children in our local community. Please join us in meeting the needs or desires of these children by selecting a gift tag from one of the Christmas trees in the East or West Narthex. A sign-up sheet is provided to ensure that we can keep track of the tags and gifts.

You can participate in this giving opportunity by:

• Purchasing the items listed on the gift tag.
• Purchasing a gift card from a local department store (Walmart, Target, Marshalls, etc.) in the amount of $25, $50, $75 or $100, and drop them off at the church administration office between Saturday, October 5 and Thursday, October 31.
• Sending a check made out to NCUMC with "Christmas Wish Tree" on the memo line.

We are sharing the love of Christmas with children from the following ministries and organizations: 

Wildwood Middle High School Mentor Program: A partnership between New Covenant and students at Wildwood Middle High School that provides mentoring for 35 students, and focuses on the spiritual, physical, academic/career, and behavioral well-being of each student.  

Kids Central: Provides support services to children and families in Sumter, Lake, Marion, Citrus and Hernando counties to promote well-being, safety, and health. 

Shepherd’s Lighthouse: Shepherd’s Lighthouse provides temporary, transitional housing for homeless, single teenage mothers and their children.  

The Refuge at Jumper Creek: Provides emergency housing for homeless families, and dedicated housing for veterans.

Voices for Children: Voices for Children meets the basic, financial, and critical needs of the children, such as clothing, shoes, specialized medical or dental treatment, psychological evaluations and counseling through the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program.

Pastor Appreciation Month

Saturday, October 19 & Sunday, October 20, after Worship Services

We will be serving cake to celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month on Saturday, October 19 after the 5 PM worship service and on Sunday, October 20 after the 9 AM and 11 AM worship services. Baskets will be available for you to drop a card or note to our pastors expressing your appreciation for their service.

Any time after October 20, you may drop off a note at the Church Office.

Blood Drive

Monday, October 21 from 12 PM – 6 PM in the West Parking Lot

New Covenant is hosting a Blood Drive with OneBlood. There is an urgent call for additional blood donations due to the hurricanes. All blood types are needed, however there is an urgent need for O Negative and O Positive blood, as well as Platelet donations. One pint of blood can save up to three lives.

If you’re able to do so, participating in this Blood Drive is another way for us to love our neighbor and be Christ’s hands, feet, and voice in the world. All donors receive a $20 eGift card, a Halloween t-shirt, and a wellness check.

Appointments are encouraged!

Night to Shine Returns in 2025

New Covenant United Methodist Church is thrilled to announce that we will once again host the unforgettable Night to Shine event on February 7, 2025, from 5 PM – 9 PM.

This annual event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, celebrates people with special needs and provides them with an unforgettable prom night experience centered on God’s love. We had so much fun last year, and we are beyond excited to bring this incredible event back to our community! The joy and smiles that filled our church last year were nothing short of amazing, and we can’t wait to see what this year has in store.

Volunteer registrations are open. Whether you’re interested in helping with decorations, or serving in another capacity, we would love to have you join us.

If you are interested in volunteering, please click the Night to Shine button to learn more about the different opportunities and sign up for our volunteer newsletter to stay updated on all things Night to Shine.

New Covenant Library

New Covenant is happy to have a wonderful library with many resources available to you in Christian fiction, non-fiction, research, and more. Want to know more about the United Methodist Church? We have titles available to you. Looking for a small group curriculum? We have a special section with small group discussion in mind!  Come check us out! And remember, you need a New Covenant ID card to check out a book!  For more information, contact Ginny Davis.  We also have an online link to see what materials you might be looking for, and you can access it here!

Giana Colonna

Craig & Connie Frazier

Theo Gee

Inez Hall

Liz

Ed Nuernberg

All those living thru Hurricane Helene Florida Hurricane Milton

Diane Savage

Susan

Randy Trella

Prayer Quilts

Susan, who is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy for cancer.

Prayer quilts are made by a dedicated group in our church who envision the quilts being a special gift of love for people facing difficult situations. If you would like to order a prayer quilt, please click the button below.

For upcoming Celebrations of Life at New Covenant United Methodist Church, please click the button below.

Our Altar Flowers have been provided by:

Bob & Ann Koehling in celebration of their 65^th anniversary.

Flower orders must be received by noon on Tuesday for flowers to be delivered that weekend. To place an order for altar flowers, please contact Ginny Davis using the button below.